Rotary power-reversing mechanism



Nov. 19, 1935. J. B. PICARD ET AL ROTARY POWER REVERSI NG MECHANISM Original Filed March 17, 1934 5 SheetS S heet Nov. 19, 1935. J. B. PICARD ET AL ROTARY POWER REVERSING MECHANISM 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Q Original Filed March 17, 1934 INVENTORS. 3M Kym, 446 j 7 44 4 Nov. 19, 1935- J. B. PICARD ET AL ROTARY POWER REVERSING MECHANISM Original Filed March 1'7, 1934 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 lNV NTOR Patented Nov. 19, 1935 UNITED STATES 2,021,135 PATENT OFFICE Springfield, Ohio, assignors to The National- Superior Company, Toledo, Ohio, a corporation of Delaware Original application March 17, 1934, Serial No. 716,130. Divided and this application February 19, 1935, Serial No. 7,222

5 Claims.

This invention relates generally to reversing mechanism for transmitting rotary power in either direction and more particularly to a unitary reversing mechanism which may be interposed between the source and the application of the power transmitted.

This application is a division of application Serial No. 716,130, filed March 17, 1934.

The invention may be conveniently applied, for example, to countershaft reversing mechanism adapted for quickly and smoothly changing the direction of the applied motion without interrupting the motion at the source of power.

As herein illustrated this invention is shown applied to a reversing countershaft mechanism for use with apparatus in the process of producing oil from wells.

Hoisting reels or drums are employed intermittently for relatively short intervals from the commencing of the drilling of awell until the well is producing or abandoned. The hoisting reels are generally driven by any suitable source of power through power transmitting means and it is necessary that these reels be reversed without reversing the direction of rotation of the powerdriving source. However, the use of rotary power, capable of function in either direction, is not in any manner restricted to hoisting mechanism during the process of producing oil from the earth.

The reversing mechanism, as herein illustrated, is required to perform heavy duty service in reversing the direction of rotation of the mechanism under heavy loads at high speeds. In order to avoid casualties in the work as well as among the workers, reversing mechanism must operate quickly and smoothly and without loss of time. Time is of the essence of some of. the operations in performing this type of Work as the operation may be lost and have to be repeated because its sequence was broken in time.

Another requirement of a countershaft reversing mechanism is that it may be adaptable for use in combination with any of several types of power source units without changes or additions to said power source units.

To these ends this invention provides novel features in the transmission means for smoothly reversing the direction of rotation of the power delivered by the mechanism and in the arrangement for supporting the power in-put and power out-put means in axial alinement and in the means for operating the reversing mechanism.

The accompanying drawings illustrate, for purposes of exemplification but without limitation of the claimed invention thereto, certain practical embodiments of the principles of this invention.

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the reversing mechanism, parts of which are in section and parts of which are broken away.

Fig-2 is a plan view showing the base of the mechanism with the lever and link system for operating the forward and reversing means of the device. 1

Fig. 3 is an end view of the reversing mechanism. 8

Fig. 4 is a detailed view partly in section of a form of the forward drive clutch mechanism.

Referring to the drawings and more particularly to Figs. 1 to 4, ll! represents the base or frame structure having secured on its ends the upright 10 bearing stands I I forsupporting the main bearing housings l2, which may be fastened thereto as by the bolts l3. l4 represents a rotary shaft journaled within the bearing housings I2.

l5 represents a universal joint arranged to con- 115 nect the right hand end of the shaft i4 directly to the shaft Hi. The shaft It has attached thereto the fly-wheel IT, as indicated in Fig. 1, and represents the source of rotary power for :the mechanism.

23 represents a rotary gear or pulley member which is secured to the shaft I4 by means of a key I8. 24 represents a rotary driving sleeve member which is carried by the sleeve bearings 25 mounted for rotation on the shaft 14. The outer :16 ends of the sleeve bearings 25 are provided with the flanges 26 arranged to be engaged by the ends of the sleeve member 24 on one side and the collar 21 and the hub of the rotary gear or pulley member 23 one the other side, which engagement 30 prevents any axial movement of the sleeve 24 on the shaft M.

The member 23 has secured thereto the cylindrical drum 3| provided with a smooth perimetral friction surface which is encircled by the half clutch bands 32 and 33.

One end of the clutch bands is provided with the strap 34 having a transverse cylindrical sleeve arranged to be pivotally mounted on the pin 35 extending from the face of the crank disc 36 on the inner end of the shaft 31 which is rotatably mounted in the conical or reverse friction drum member 38. The other end of the clutch bands is provided with a pierced lug 39 arranged to receive the threaded portion of the bolt 40 which is adjustably secured thereto as by the nuts and lock nuts 4|. The bolt 40 is also provided with a transverse cylindrical sleeve arranged to be pivotally mounted on the pin 42 extending from the face of the crank disc 36 on the inner end of the shaft 31. The outer ends of thepins 35 and 42 are held in place by the cap disc 36'.

The shafts 31 are parallel to each other and symmetrically disposed on either side of the axis of the drum 38 and parallel to the latter. The center of the pins 35 and 42 are eccentric to the axis of the shafts 31, as shown in Fig. 4, and when the shafts 31 are rotated the pins 'move the straps .34 and the bolts 40 clamping or releasing the bands in frictional engagement with the cylindrical drum 3|.

If the shafts 31 are rotated so as to clamp the 7} cal drum 38 drives the driven pulley 45 through the medium'of the shaft sleeve '24;

.48 represents a clutch operating sleeve splined as'at 49 on the shaft sleeve 24 to permit longitudinal motion of the clutch sleeve thereon. The sleeve 48 is provided with a pair of sockets Q to receive the ball joints 5| on one end of the connecting links 52.

The ball joints 53 on the other end of the connecting links 52 are arranged to be secured in their complementary sockets 54 in the lever.

arms 55, secured to the outer ends of the shafts 37. The clutch operating sleeve 48 isprovided with the integral annular key 53 arranged to rotate in the annular groove of the stationary partible collar 51.

The collar 51 is provided with two outwardly extending and oppositely disposed ears 58 arranged to extend into the slots 59 in the ends of the bifurcated lever 65 which ispivotally supported in the stand 6! securedto the frame H! as shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3.

Thus when the lever 60 is moved in a counterclockwise direction it carries with it the collar 48 to the left and longitudinally of the shaft sleeve 24. The links 52 then rotate the levers speed as the shaft I4.

Conversely, movement of the bifurcated lever 60 in 'a clockwise direction will disengage the clutch bands from the drum 3!. 7

As herein illustrated the reverse drive of the mechanism is attained by the use of the frustoconical rollers 62 which in this case performs the 'dual function of a clutch and a gear element for reversing the mechanism.

63 represents a frusto-conical face on one side of the driven pulley 23 adjacent the periphery thereof which is, in this instance, provided with the frictional lagging material 64 arranged to engage the conical surface of the rollers 62.

The rollers 62 may be composed of laminated material to insure long and uniform wearing qualities well known in the'friction pulley art. 65 represents the conical surface of the drum '38 which is also arranged to be engaged by the r rollers 62.

Thus the rotary driven pulley 23 may be made to drive the drum 38 and the driving pulley 45 on the shaft sleeve 24 in the reverse direction when the frusto-conical rollers 62 are moved into engagement with the conical frictionalsurfaces on thepulley 23 and the drum 38.

The rollers62 are rotatably supported by the anti-frictional bearings 66 on the non-rotary spindle 61 whose axes are in this instance disposed at an angle substantially 45 degrees to the shaft i4 and in the same horizontal plane.

68 represents a cap plate on the inner end of the spindle 61 arranged to hold the inner races 5 of the bearings 66 and the spacingsleeve 69 against the shoulder H on the shaft. represents a hub-cap arranged to close the bore of the inner face of the rollers 62 to prevent dirtand other foreign matter from entering therein. 10 From the shoulders H to the shoulders 12 the spindles are cylindrical and from the shoulders 12 the outer ends of the spindles are square in. cross section as shown in Figs. 1 and 3 at 13. The square end portion of each spindle is slidably supported in the upwardly open squared bearing slot" in the bearing box 15 carried by the upright stand 16 whose lower ends are secured to the base frame ID. The bearing slot 14 is'arranged to be closed at the top by the plate 11 2O bolted to the bearing box. The slot I4 is wider than the squared portion of the spindle, permitting it to move transversely therein. 18 represents helical springs carried within suitable openings 19 in the vertical face, of the 5 squared portion 13 of the spindle, that is remote from the driven pulley 23. The ends of the springs are provided with the mushroom headed pins 80 whose outer faces bear against the vertical wall 8| of the slot 14. 130 The pressure of the springs acts on the pins 80 to move the spindle 61 away from the vertical wall 81 The transverse movement of the spindle 6! is limited by the plates 82 on the ends of the adjusting bolts 83 which pass through tapped a holes in the wall of the bearing housing [5. 5T which in turn slides the rotating clutch sleeve 7 Thus when the spindle 61 is moved inwardly to engage the roller 62 with the conical friction surfaces, the roller first contacts'the frictional driving surfaces 64 of the rotary pulley 23 and is thereby rotated; Further inward movement of the spindle S? forces the rotating roller 62 up the conical surface 64 moving the axis of the spindle transversely of the bearing and compressing the springs 18 until the roller engages the conical friction surface on the drum 38, thereby driving the shaft sleeve 24 and the driving pulley 45 in the reverse direction as.

'long as the rollers are thus held in engagement with their complementary frictional surfacesfi When the rollers 32 are in their full meshed position and conical friction surfaces extend to form a complete cone they would meet at an apex on the axis of the shaft [4 which precludes any possibility of sliding friction between the D5 faces of the contacting elements.

The spindles 6? are moved longitudinally of their axis by means of the vertical levers 34 pivotally supported at 85 on the stands 16. The upper ends 85 of the levers 84 are bifurcated 60 to fit around the spools 8] adjustably secured to the ends of the squared portion 13 of the nected by the short links 5| to the cross pin 92 which is supported by the lower bifurcated end 93 of the forward clutch lever 60. The trifurcated head 94 on the end of the link 95 is pro vided with alined holes to receive the pin 92 V and is arranged so that its center fork is between the bifurcated ends of the lever 60. The links 9| are outwardly adjacent thereto and the outer forks of the head 94 are on the ends of the pin as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1.

The other end of the link 95 is pivotally attached to the bell crank 96 pivoted at 91 on the frame l8 and having its other end connected by the rod 58 to the hand operating lever 99.

When the lever 99 is moved to the left, as in Fig. 3, the forward clutch lever 60 will be operated in a clockwise direction disconnecting the forward clutch drive and at the same time the bell crank 96 will be operated in a counterclockwise wirection in Fig. 2, thereby rocking the reverse lever 84 to move the rollers 62 into engagement with their complementary faces to operate the driving pulley 45 in the reverse direction. When the hand operating lever is in its neutral position the linkage system is arranged to permit the driven pulley 23 to rotate alone.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 3, I99 represents a brake drum secured to the shaft sleeve 24 by the key 95. The perimetral surface of the brake drum is grooved to receive the brake band I02 supported from below on the pin hinge H33 secured in the bracket Hi4 bolted to the cross member iii-5 of the bearing stand H. The brake is operated by the ordinary brake rod I06 and camrned lever it? arranged, when pulled to the right in Fig. 3, to shorten the bolt I08 to draw the ends i539 of the band together, gripping the drum to slacken the speed or stop the rotation of the driving pulley 45.

Owing to the fact that the shaft I4 is designed to rotate, antifrictional roller bearings cannot be used as they would be stationary relative to the rotating shaft and shaft sleeve 24 and their line contact would peen into the races ultimately causing their destruction. It is therefore necessary to use the sleeve type of bearing 25 for rotatably supporting the drive shaft sleeve 24 to avoid this dimculty.

While this invention has been illustrated and described particularly in reference to a countershaft reversing mechanism foruse with well drilling and pumping apparatus, it should be understood that changes may be made in the form disclosed, Without departing from the spirit of the invention and that certain features may sometimes be used to advantage without a corresponding use of other features.

We claim:-

1. In a rotary reversing mechanism, the comination of a rotary shaft, a member fixed thereon and having on its one face a conical driving surface and concentric therewith a cylindrical driving surface, a member to be driven rotatably mounted on the shaft adjacent to said face of the first member, said second member being provided with a conical surface opposed to the conical driving surface of the first member and also provided with clutch bands arranged to be tightened about the cylindrical driving surface of the first member whereby to rotate the second member in unison with the shaft, and means arranged to be interposed between the conical surfaces of both members whereby to rotate the second member in the opposite direction.

2. In a. rotary reversing mechanism, the combination of a rotary shaft, a member fixed thereon and having on its one face a conical driving surface and concentric therewith a cylindrical driving surface, a member to be driven rotatably mounted on the shaft adjacent to said face of the first member, said second member being provided with a conical surface opposed to the conical driving surface of the first member and also provided with clutch bands arranged to be tightened about thecylindrical driving surface of the first member whereby to rotate the second member in unison with the shaft, and means arranged to be interposed between the conical surfaces of both members whereby to rotate the second member in the opposite direction said last mentioned means being arranged to first engage the conical driving surface of the first member.

3. In a rotary reversing mechanism, the combination of a rotary shaft, a member fixed thereon and having a conical driving surface and concentric therewith a cylindrical driving surface, a member to be driven rotatably mounted on the shaft adjacent the first member, said second member being provided with a conical surface opposed to the conical driving surface of the first member and also pro-vided with clutch bands arranged to be tightened about the cylindrical driving surface of the first member where by to rotate the second member in unison with the shaft, and means supported independently of the shaft arranged to be interposed between the conical surfaces of both members whereby to rotate the second member in opposite direction.

4. In a rotary reversing mechanism, the combination of a rotary shaft, a member fixed thereon and having a conical driving surface and concentric therewith a cylindrical driving surface, a member to be driven rotatably mounted on the shaft adjacent the first member, said second member being provided with a conical surface opposed to the conical driving surface of the first member and also provided with clutch bands arranged to be tightened about the cylindrical driving surface of the first member whereby to rotate the second member in unison with the shaft, supports at opposite sides of the shaft, and frusto-conical rollers journaled on said supports and arranged for axial movement, said rollers arranged to be interposed between said conical surfaces to rotate the second member in the opposite direction.

5. In a rotary reversing mechanism, the combination of a rotary driven shaft, a member fixed to said shaft, a second member rotatably mounted on said shaft and having a conical driven surface, a cylindrical driving surface and a conical driving surface on the side of the first member adjacent the second member, band members carried by the second member and arranged when operated to engage the cylindrical driving surface for rotating the second member in the same direction as that of the .shaft, means on said second member arranged when rotated to clamp the band members into frictional engagement with the cylindrical driving surface, independent means arranged to first engage the conical driving surface and then engage the conical driven surface to rotate the second member in the opposite direction from that of the shaft, and means for alternately operating both of said aforementioned means.

JOHN B. PICARD. BRUNO R. SCHABARUM. GEORGE F. NOLTEIN. 

